How to Communicate Better at Work

How to Communicate Better at Work
Analysis of the DISC Personality Types

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The office is a thriving collection of several different personalities, all navigating their own communication styles and methods to complete their tasks. Though there are many different personality types (Myers Briggs, 16 Personalities, and so many more), we boiled them all down to the core four types: The Dominant, The Influencer, The Conscientious, and The Steady. Each has a different preferred communication style and process for getting their work done. Here’s how to communicate, and work with, each type.

 

The Dominant

The dominant is direct and concise. They can be blunt, which comes from their more efficient nature, but try not to take it personally in communication. They don’t like to dilly-dally or waste time with unnecessary niceties. That doesn’t mean they’re rude or unable to chit-chat, they just do it only when necessary. They will always deliver on time to clients, even if they have to work late. They appreciate results, clear goals and objectives on how to achieve them, and leading the project. They are often great salespeople and make charismatic leaders. They work best as leaders of a group and respond best to directness when given a task.

 

The Influencer

The influencer is a people-person. They value teamwork and love to work with others. They are also eager to help and complete tasks no matter their previous experience, and that can sometimes cause them to overinflate their abilities because they truly believe they can accomplish tasks far out of their expertise. They work best in an office setting and in groups, not independently or remotely. It’s best to open communication with chit-chat, or a joke, before delegating tasks to them. While they appreciate directives, they don’t appreciate being talked down to and can be sensitive to tone. Lastly, it’s best to discuss the task or project with them verbally first, then follow up with written communication to ensure they have everything they need and minimize their questions.

 

The Steady

The steady employee is empathetic and relaxed. They’re easily distracted and not skilled at prioritizing tasks or meeting deadlines without a supervisor overlooking the project. However, they’re great team players, responsive, and generous. They’re terrific active listeners and enjoy learning about how others think and feel, so they work best with a team. They don’t like to be rushed and aren’t quick to make decisions; They need time to work at their own pace. Lastly, they appreciate check-ins regularly during the project. It’s best not to assume they’re on board with everyone’s ideas or not overwhelmed with the task just because they don’t say anything. They’re often too polite to voice disagreement and will suffer in silence.

The Conscientious

The conscientious employee is systematic and organized. They like detail, time for preparation, and clear instruction when given a task. They’re not great with chit-chat and prefer working independently. They are most productive in remote working environments where they’re most comfortable. They always deliver on time, will often double- or triple-check their work, and never miss the details. So, don’t skimp on the details when communicating an upcoming project. Put instructions in writing and stick with them. The conscientious doesn’t like instructions changing without reason or notice. And they’re clear communicators, so creative positions are a best fit.

 

At Anvil and pdxMindShare, we have at least one of each personality type. We’ve navigated our different communication styles and work methods to create a more cohesive and productive team. We have the leaders, who are the dominants of the group. We have our middle management dynamic duo, one of the Conscientious types and one of the Steady, who work together to support our partners with empathy and organization. And lastly, we have two influencers who always bring a positive attitude to work and hype up our meetings with their energy. We each perform best using our strengths and compensating for each other’s weaker areas. A team works best when the members complement each other.

 

Which one are you? The Dominant, The Influencer, The Steady, or The Conscientious? We’d love to hear from you! And we hope you use these insights to help you communicate with your team, as well as communicate your needs with the team. For more workplace advice, keep following our blog.

 

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